voda

Just drove the '09 C2S and loved it. Didn't love the sticker at $96K, so looked in used market. Can pick up an '06 with under 20K miles for about $50K. I have not driven the '06, since my local dealer doesn't have any in stock and none are for sale close by. I know I need to drive the '06, but before I start traveling around to do so, I was wondering what anyone could tell me as far as pros and cons of both model years. My main concern is that the '09, which I loved, has 30 more bhp than the '06.

kurteck

I am in the same boat myself. While I would love to own a new 997.2 it is hard to justify spending an additional $50k for 0 miles on the clock. That $50k goes a long way on tires, brakes, track days, maintenance, and performance mods. Below are some of the differences between the .1 and .2 iterations. I'm sure there are others, but this was a quick list I created to help decide if the new options and features are worth the extra cash.

For most, owning a Porsche is less about status and more about the driving sensations. Drive several examples of the 997.1 and 997.2. If you can feel and hear $50k of difference between the cars then go for the .2, otherwise stick to the .1.

MY2009 Changes
PDK
Direct Fuel Injection
Better Fuel Economy (10%)
Increased HP (355 -> 385)
Increased TQ (295 -> 310)
Sport PASM (-20mm) Ride Height
Limited Slip Differential
Improved Suspension
Improved Brake Cooling
Improved Oil Pump
Decreased Engine Weight
Standard Xenon Headlights
Updated Nav System (PCM 3.0)
Updated Entertainment Layout
Added 6-Disc CD/DVD Changer
Ability to connect Bluetooh
Ability to connect USB
Ability to connect iPod
Revised Front Facia
Larger Side Mirrors

voda

How big of a difference does the 30 bhp make? Anyone have any street and/or track experience to share in this regard? This 30 bhp is my sticking point (esp. since it works out to about $1000 per bhp when considering the '09).

zweebach

I recently went through the same process, and narrowed my selection choice down to finding a car with a few specific options that happen to be available on the 997.1 and .2 cars. Because I was looking for a car to drive daily, I determined after driving both versions, that the power increase was not noticeable to make a difference in a daily commute. The updated PCM system is easier to use due to the less cluttered look, but from a true driving experience is of little significance. If it's of any concern, Ipod and bluetooth can be added to the gen 1 cars. My suggestion, make your short list of what is important to you. If the power is a major concern, a few mods on a gen 1 can add 30hp, but may present a possible warranty issue. Which brings up another point, how much warranty do you want the car to have?

sclemmons

If you had the '06, I bet you would not be ready to trade.

mkk62

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRe34TqsJlo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRe34TqsJlo

mdrums and i had fun last month. 3:00 minutes into video shows both of us with one passenger going all out at the last straight at sebring...mdrums 997.2 s with pdk (red car) mine 997.1 s . you can see he pulls from me ...
first part of video my tire pressures were too high and mdrums was in the zone..
997.2 faster especially with pdk..worth the difference in money for street driving imho not...i can afford a new 997.2 s but would not be able to push it as much on the track and still looks great!
every yr the car depreciates i drive it a little faster at the track..

if mdrums could drive a manual tranny ( he can't for physical reasons) would he upgrade to 997.2... ? i think he upgraded more for the pdk (which is great although i like manual) let's see if he chimes in...

PS mods unless significant (ie supercharger) will not make the 997.1 as fast as the 997.2 ...i have giac flash, fabspeed headers, exhaust and evoms intake..sounds great but will not keep up with 997.2 but you will never notice unless screaming down a track..

mdrums

mkk62 is right on with his post above...I totally agree..

Most likely I would not buy a 997.2 manual over a 997.1 manual unless money was no object for me and I could afford it without even thinking about it. Or if I was absolutely ready to get out of my 997.1 and get a 997.2 to keep for a very long time.

I do think the 997.2 S engine, 385hp vs the 997.1 S engine, 355hp is more than Porsche is letting us on to or PDK is just that good at getting power to the tires! The new 997.2 engine really runs great at speed! At the track I drive with some very good drivers. I have found that I can handle supposedly more powerful 996TT's no problem, same for 996GT3. I can keep up with stock and sometimes pass stock 997GT3's but I feel maybe some of these 997GT3 drivers are not driving at the level I am at. My last event at Sebring I was turning consistent 2:30 laps...even faster than the time before that, which is the video mkk62 posted. The 997.2 with PDK on 1/2 worn Toyo R888 with Pagid Yellow pads is a very fast car. I know where I am holding back on the track so I think with a pro racer...ie Pat Long at Sebring my car would be capable of 2:25-28 laps.

I only bought the 997.2 PDK because:

1- got a great deal and way out of my 997.1 Tiptronic
2- got a great deal on my 997.2 PDK
3- dealer let me under no pressure to buy the car, order exactly what I wanted...I ordered in July 08 no deposit
4- I got tired of being outrun by mkk62! 997.1 manual vs my 997.1 Tiptronic :-)

I hope this info helps in your decision.

RonCT

You forgot the LED lights and braking warning system...

I've had both 997.1 and 997.2 Carrera S. Yes, for a track oriented guy (50/50 street vs. track) the 997.2 is a significant improvement, especially with the Sport PASM suspension / LSD. Otherwise, I honestly think you are wasting your money if you feel an 06 at $50k will do the trick. They aren't that different. Now if you were comparing an 08 leftover at say $82k to an 09 for $87k (I paid 10.3% off MSRP on my lightly optioned 09 order), then I'd say definitely spend the extra $5k. But if you are just tooling around town and country and aren't after that last 1/10th of a second in lap times, 30 HP isn't going to do anything. Yes, my butt dyno (and TraqMate) can tell the car is hotter than my 997.1 was, but you have to be very sensitive to be able to pick it up. And, if the 06 is the only 997S you will drive, what's to compare anyway? The theoretical 1/10th of a second from 0-60, which is a measure nobody experiences anyway?

In your shoes, I'd be looking for an 06 or 07 with CPO for the 6/100k warranty. If privately owned, no problem - most Porsche selling dealers would happily run the transaction through their shop at cost to provide the warranty (about $2k).

mkk62

i agree and i must say that MDRUMS car outrun me on the straights better than a 997 gt3...i had the experience of following 2 separate 997 gt3's and on that particular straight at sebring i could keep up with one and the other pulled about the same as MDRUMS.(could be that my exit speed was better?)....I think MDRUMS is right, that 997.2 is more powerful than the 30hp increase..PDK must be a factor in that.it is faster but again on the street you will never know it. definitely get CPO as mine is too. great time to buy one too....

mk

GR997S

+1..I test drove an '09 and not worth the expense of the upgrade. Now a Turbo maybe..but the cost to upgrade ...WOW

Dr_KarlB

I read somewhere that the difference between the weight of a full and empty tank of gas was "equivalent" to about 10BHP (in a 996)

Perhaps a full tank and a passenger would be 20BHP.... can you feel this ?

Moderato

How much of a difference on the track has the LSD made vs. your 997.1?

Targa Tim

+1, Ron, I also would like to know the track time differences between you .2S, .1S and GT3.

and to the OP, I had a 997.1S before my club coupe, 355 vs 381hp, both manual, no difference in city driving, very slight difference in track driving.

996CABOVA

Well I have a 05 C2S and was literally just talking to my buddy about this topic. I test drove a 997.2 S and man that thing is a BEAST. It was a PDK that thing is plain ridiculas. You can defintiely feel the power difference even for me on the street.

Now I thought my C2S had some breathing issues so I put a Fabspeed CAI and a BMC Air Filter and it changed my car very nicely. Those are the only mods I have and lets be frank a 997.1 C2S is a very fast car, and I have a Cab not a Coupe. My buddy has a Lambo Gallardo and he cant pull on me and I have slightly pulled on him b4.

All this being said in a few years I def will be looking into a 997.2 w a PDK and im a manual lover. The power of a 997.2 is just awesome and w some mods like w my car being air filter and CAI and a chip the .2 will be INSANE. Oh yea plus you get LAUNCH CONTROLLLLLLLL

RonCT

I posted my reactions in several other threads, but I don't have them book marked. If you look at some of my threads in the last month or so, you'll find my 997.1 vs. 997 GT3 vs. 997.2

In general, I find the 997.2 extremely capable, but I've only had it a few days on the track and am using different tires (R888), trying different pads (4-2-1), am getting used to the SPASM / LSD, etc. In general, I believe the car is on-par with the 997 GT3 mostly due to the great Gen 2 suspension.

Keep in mind, this is at a fairly high level of driving on the track. On the street, I don't know that anyone could really tell the difference. 30 HP is really nominal and yes, on the back straight of Watkins Glen when I can reach 150 vs. 146 and be even with a 997 GT3, that is a difference. But day-to-day around town, on the highway, and even in the twisties, I can't see how there's any perceiveable difference.

Again, the OP was wondering about an 06 C2S for $50k vs. an 09 C2S in the $80s (after discount).